Across the Pastor’s Desk by Katie Pals

If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict?

I’ve heard that question in several different contexts, and it’s so intriguing. Not only that but the idea has become more relevant in our culture with movies like “Do You Believe?” which is at our small town theater and with the real-life crisis of Christians getting persecuted and murdered around the world.

Some, I know, are uncomfortable with this question, these movies and the type of conversation they spurn. They feel they preach decision theology where it’s about us having that moment of choosing Jesus as our Lord and Savior, something we do, otherwise we aren’t saved. While I agree wholeheartedly that our life, our salvation, comes from God’s grace and is not dependent upon our actions or anything we do — thank God — I think we can stress that without the need to cut off this conversation because I see it as inspiring people, getting them thinking and talking, and I don’t think that’s something we ever want to curtail.

This question isn’t about death or salvation, it’s about our lives. Do our lives reflect our faith in Jesus Christ? Is it a part of who we are that shows through to the world? Do we proclaim Christ in our words and our deeds? Are we Christ to one another, showing his love? Does the Spirit allow us to live boldly, to be his hands and feet and voice in the world? The world needs all of these things. The church is at a time of transition. Violence against Christians and around the world is getting more horrific, and like it or not it’s hitting us closer and closer.

Whatever your beliefs are, it’s clear that social issues like marriage and abortion are hitting a crisis point. The world needs us as God’s people as the body of Christ to be present, to really be present and informed and involved in the midst of all of this. Our faith isn’t just something to make us feel good, it can, should and does have real implications for our lives, and that’s where our question comes back in.

So I guess we really do have a decision to make, not with regards to Jesus or our salvation, but to something perhaps even bigger. Every day God gives us his grace and then we get to decide if we are going to live in a way that shows that our belief in him, that that grace matters. So will we?

 

Katie Pals is the pastor at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and Trinity Lutheran Church in Kiester.